Zotac GTX 260²

Test Setup & Games

A selection of games and benchmark suites has been chosen to test each of the graphics cards used in today's review on several different game engines. Each graphics card configuration will be run at both low and high resolutions with varying levels of texture filtering to represent 17", 20" and 24" screen sizes.

To ensure that the test system is powerful enough to test each GPU to its limits, the configuration chosen below has been specially selected to give the GTX260 plenty of headroom to produce the best results.

CPUIntel Core2Quad Q6600 2.4Ghz @ 3.6 Ghz

MotherboardASUS P5Q Deluxe (P45)

MemoryCellshock DDR2 PC-2 6400 5-5-5-18 @ 800mhz

Power SupplyTuniq Ensemble 1200w

Graphics DriversNVidia Forceware 180.48ATI Catalyst 8.12.72276

Operating SystemWindows Vista 64bit SP1

For testing we decided to put the GTX260 against its closest rival; The 4870. We chose our favourite 4870 tested so far, the 4870 IceQ4+ Turbo by HIS. This comes with a hefty overclock, and gave the GTX260 quite a battering at stock speeds. Therefore, to even things up, we decided to give the GTX260 a bit of a tweak. The final lineup is as follows:

Its not been done on a few of the recent articles.. It works best with cards which are far apart in cost, so you can compare them on a even playing field, but since these cards are so close it would take up a lot of graph space for not a lot of useful information..

If there are any in particular you would like to know I can rustle up a graph.Quote

I think this is exactly where the cost per frame comes into play. The choice between a midrange and highend card based on price isn't hard anyway, but here it's starting to be tough.

Nice review btw :')

Thanks dude.. what im trying to say is, the cards are ££ apart, people looking to buy 2 cards of that price point, aren't going to be put off by one costing £1.50 more or something silly, it will be solely down to performance.Quote

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